The Pontyscyttle aqueduct which carries the Llangollen canal & towpath 1000 feet over the River Dee 120 feet below in a narrow iron trough and is both the longest & highest navigable aqueduct in the world.

The partially restored Lancaster follows an interesting route into the Lake District & passes close to the sea as it provides excellent views of the Cumbrian hills.

Peak District

Follow canals and former railways through the beautiful Peak District

An interesting walk that follows the trans peak district route taking in canal, former railway and some hills!

Cromford is a small mill town in Derbyshire famous for role at the start of the industrial revolution. The Cromford canal was built to link into the canal network and carry goods to the south and to eastern ports.

The Peak District hills thwarted plans to build a canal to link to western towns and ports. Instead a railway was constructed in 1830. The steep ascents from Cromford meant that lengthy inclined plains were used with static engines to tow the trains up the inclines. The railway linked the Cromford canal in the east to the Peak Forest canal in the West.

Today the Cromford canal is no longer navigable but the still in water with a well defined towpath. The majority of the rail link has been turned into The High Peak Trail a popular footpath and cycle trail.

The route follows the Cromford canal for a short distance before ascending the former inclined plains. The path then follows the High Peak trail through the White Peak with expansive views of the landscape before descending into the delightful spa town of Buxton.

Beyond Buxton the route follows an undulating route through the beautiful Goyt valley before descending to join the Peak Forest canal at Whaley Bridge where goods were originally transhipped from rail to canal.

From Whaley Bridge there is the option to follow the Peak Forest canal on to Marple, taking in Bugsworth basin which at one point was Britain's largest inland port.

Walk Options

5 nights/4 days

£375 per person. Single supplement £25 per night.

43 miles

4 nights/3 days

£325 per person. Single supplement £25 per night.

33 miles

3 nights/2 days

£275 per person. Single supplement £25 per night.

24 miles

‘Rest and Exploration Days’

Buxton is a former spa town and now a popular tourist destination. the former spa baths have been re-opened with pleasant shops and cafes and the pavilion and its gardens are a great place to relax. Buxton sits at the heart of the Peak District with good transport links.